San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-12-08
A Good Idea...A Fair Proposition.

The GOOD luea hDoVe reierreu w 10
that of establishing at San Marcos q
newspaper and printing Office on a
new and enlarged basis, by means OF
a stock company, which we hear is in
contemplation and has received the
endorsement of some Of our leading
citizens. We say this is q good idea,
for several strong and obvious rea-
sons,
In the first place, if the history OF
the newspaper business in this place
shows anything, it is that more than
one paper cannot be sustained in San
Marcos. The failure of the third
effort to keep up second paper here
has but just been announced. which
we think ought to be conclusive on
that point. But even If two papers
could manage to sustain life here, it
is clear that both would necessarily be
sickly and half-starved, such as could
reflect no credit on their conductors
and sueh as no citizen would wish to
send abroad as representatives of
the business, intelligence and pro-
gress Of the town.
It might we'll be questioned wheth-
er the united support of the entire
county would not be necessary to the
support Of q first-class county paper
and it's appertaining business. Kyle,
however, in all probability will con-
tinue to keep its local paper, but this
would not be a very serious draw
back were the rest of the county
united in the support of good pa
per at the county seat for many OF
the Kyle people would find it indis-
pensable to lend their support to the
latter as we'll as their home paper.
Leaving this branch Of the subject
we come to another strong reason in
favor of the proposed enterprise,
kindred to the foregoing. Without
the cooperation contemplated, the
business in u place like this is so I'M
remunerative as to necessarily, in Or
der to keep it going, devolve on the
shoulders of one man. Such, for in
stance, has been our own experience
in San Marcos. Every intelligent
person knows that we have been to a
large extent slave to the business,
and thus only have been enabled to
keep it up without actual loss. We
have long felt the need of an assist
ant in local editing and soliciting as
well as in other departments. With
this we could undoubtedly have made
O more satisfactory paper and got on
with comparative ease and comfort,
Another thing-an editor who has
the whole business of a newspaper
and printing business on his hands
cannot as a matter OF course do him.
self Justice in his own proper sphere.
Such has been our position. Yet the
business would not justify the en-
ployment of the needed help without
loss, SO we have been compelled to
worry along single handed. Not
only SO, but as was to have been ex-
pected, we have made some enemies
not very many, it is true, but suf-
ficient to prevent that unity of sup
port that was essential to the great
est success.
Now under the proposed plan Of
a stock company, the needed capital
would be had to start right, aud,
through a division of labor, and the
united patronage naturally to be ex
pected from the management OF new
men against whom there was no
special prejudice, there could be but
little doubt that the new departure
in the newspaper business would, as
itsurely ought to, be Inuch more snc
cessful than any fOfsor effort And
It seems to Us that San Marcos has
fully reached 8 stage Of progress re-